Automatic lathe machine



May 15, 1956 H. c. SONNTAG AUTOMATIC LATHE MACHINE Filed Sept. 24, 1952 FIG. 2

INVENTOR H ELMU TH C. SO N NTAG BY CL DJ ATTO RNEY

May 15, 1956 H. c. SONNTAG AUTOMATIC LATHE MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept. 24, 1952 INVENTOR HELMUT'H C. SONNTAG BYDM QLW ATTO RNEY May 15, 1956 H. c. SONNTAG AUTOMATIC LATHE MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 24, 1952 INVENTOR HELMUTH C. SONNTAG BYO- ATTO RNEY y 15, 1956 r H. c. SONNTAG 2,745,220

AUTOMATIC LATHE MACHINE Filed Sept. 24, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 E g INVENTOR.

HELMUTH c. SONNTAG ATTORNEY 1 'JlLl was; hi a AUTQ ATKC .LAIHP, s s

nli e e Se tembe 4. 952:1 9 39.- 3.

.9 6 Glairns. (c1. sir stt) he Pres nt nve en ela es $91 .1? so a h ,meeh 'nes and partic arly t sites ,I'n h i l ee i the s ace fin m 91" tees it meet o substantially e ifie m .se fis eles the quills or bobbins nsed the'weai ng indu V specifically, the invention relates le ed fe sete s iea l eseael fie bins which has sustained superficial surface e t t e unfi o use in the s se fi tended. Accordingly, the .inyention we described by the followingspecificat on, and in the drawings with reference to the employment eseci lly contemplated therefor. he we v 0s te e mate a the shuttle ployed is a substantially hollow adaptedto aee e a quill e bebbin 'iihie e w e b t es s w und sub a a e e a esl" T tet s elens a the quill may vary,,but most commonly it is anelona e s i l having e e eh e a ne e s adapted for e l 'e sgest st wi h e inne s rfseele a shuttle, and having a shanl; portion tap rin g fi'om the head to the other endolf the fquilh with the Quill fitted into a sh t e smil end o th 9 4.. the h r nd. w th end o t sneeled thre s Fa en in o wa re rem th eush .2 suita e e e sew in th sh l he th ead flawles ti s? the quill as used in a substantially helical path, andfw itho it rotation of the quill in the shuttle.

in u n n e e s is dra n e e 111 setts e .e the tapered end of the shank in subst'an' rin eee e t t th th Thus, it erde ereit 's le s s thethreed, t ui ste e ee eeie ly th tip 'end must be very smooth-a d ally h burrs -e e t es In se riee hewe. I t e smile are frequently dropped or otherwise roughly .ha P ed e .s rebll si rfee sletee s a d team. to pted sn in th h ai'e e en it? re se 1 t re I .e te me hes .ee di isss it i 1 f to refinish the quills at periodic intervals, or as i indicates the necessity therefor. Ihe refin sh ng or re conditioning operation may include any desired variety and sequence of operating steps. Foreaarn 1 it includecleaning, th of the shanlcand h waxing; oiling or ,deoiling; bufijng qr po y like. Most frequently it comprises applicati ing and polishing solution, wipin "light A fi s an fi h n as by hu in t fa. C k-til e buttin pad and applicator.

' It .is an object of the present invention to proyide a relatively small, compacy'automatic or semi-automatic machine in the natureof a multi stage'lath'e adapted continuously to receive and process the quills, automatically subjecting them to a series of reconditioning treatments as may be required. It is a further object of thelinvention to provide accomplishment of the reconditioning treatments with the minimum of manualinteryention ,dur- 70 ing theprocess, although thequillsmaybe fed rnan ally,

or manually recovered from .the diseharge end pith stage stage as Worked upon to be finally d cih g Patented M chine means are not provided for automatic feed and recovery. Another object of the invention is to provide a machine in which the quills are subjected to the desired treatment by rotating each quill in a multiple se ries of steps or stages, while the desired treatments are applied e each quill in each step or stage. It is'also an object of the'invention to provide means forfltra fer ring the individual quills automatically from a to e s a se f feeding a d r eevei i s' he i to -and from the machine. I Pa c ar features of the apparatus according to invention comprise the feeding assembly, wh th work elements to be treated or worlted "npon, the 'quills, are continuously fed into the tr eor dit oning operations as individual units, A an w hel l e ewdi g; jam ing e efi e nt rvention; the transpor t and positioning assemblies where div ual w'orlg elements are received and ca from the app us he e 'e d ti n di ielp means accurately locating each of the work ele' e t sRe-e t t n and t n me s em lbt' I setnbly f orsirnultaneously perforjrning 1a" s'l'iitab"le ries of r conditioning operations npon a correspond 4 o po tione an qta eib driven i 'q ems; t assembly for rotating the workelenien ts, including" fqr'linteifmittently engagingeaoh of the ev work elements with one of aseries of tating element driving means thereforja v, separate from said element driving means, for the e e e .epersting s mbl es Pi Y y as the related features of control and sync hr niiat on of the several means and assemblies. The invention, its objects and special featl n es may .be more fully understood from the fqllowinghciescrifition when it is read in conjunction with the accoinpanyig drawingsin which: Fig. 1 is an end elevation taken from that end 9 the machine to which are fed the work eleme'" s .to p V sfied a d win a m jo s e. siti'gning assemblies, and also the end porn assembly for actuating the operating ass M p FigQ Z is an opposite end elevations owing the principal connections between a cominon dr eror ctive element driving means, and the ep ate bly for actuating the several operatingassemblie F 1 n isfimetfie i Q thee a w t in Pa t u away, Providing esetls rk ew f th feet assembly and its connections with the actnating 'drive asseri ibly therefor, and also illustrating the main I most of the operating assemblies, includ ng L the transport and continuous element driving lfig. 3 izis a view in vertical cross sectiontakn all g the line '.I1I III through the base of a .t a l sto includes parts as illustrated in Fig. 3;

I Fig. ,4 i

actuating drive assembly, and also the feedlassenibly' d Fig. 7 is a plan view 0 e connections to the assembly for applying the Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and with particular reference to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the several operating and driving assemblies are shown as mounted on and integrated by means of a supporting structure including a base A, and a plurality of platform members such as B, C, D, E, F, and G established in fixed and rigid supporting and functional relationships by means such as vertical rods H, I, J, and K. Although not shown in the drawings, the entire machine may be contained within a protective cover or shield of any suitable design and conformation such as are now well known to anyone skilled in the art.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a suitable source of power for driving and actuating the several operating, control and synchronization assemblies contemplated. As shown, this source is an electric motor mounted on the platform G, and having a drive shaft 1a and drive pulleys 1b and 1c, each keyed or otherwise v secured to the motor shaft for rigid relationship thereto. A belt 2 on pulley 1b passed over idler pulleys 3 and 4, provides for transmission of power to drive the assembly for rotating the work elements during reconditioning treatment thereof. This transmission system or first power train is best seen by reference to Fig. 6, although shown in part in Figs. 3 and 7.

A second power train or transmission system is provided by a belt 5 passed over and engaging the drive pulley 1c and the intermediate pulley 6 mounted on an idler shaft 6a. A second intermediate pulley 7 also mounted on shaft 6a is connected by a belt 8 to a third transmission pulley 9 mounted on an idler shaft 10. A sprocket also mounted on the shaft 10, concealed in Fig. 2 by pulley 9,

transmits power to a sprocket 11 mounted on shaft 12 g by means of a sprocket chain 13. The shaft 12, as later described, is the main drive shaft for operation and actuation of the several operating, control, and synchronization assemblies and other principal functions of the apparatus.

Next, considering the several operating assemblies as set forth above, the feed assembly is illustrated in considerable detail in Figs. 6 and 7, and also shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Referring particularly to Figs. 6 and 7, the numerals 21 and 22 designate a pair of spaced parallel guide members supported as by means of a brace 23 in v angular relation to, and inclined downwardly toward, a substantially horizontal receiving table 24 to which the guides are joined at their lower ends. The table itself is supported by the platform E. The guides 21 and 22 are spaced so as to accommodate the work elements or quills between them. Where quills or bobbins of the character specifically contemplated for the purpose of this description are concerned, the spacing of the guides will be such as to be slightly greater than the greatest diameter of the quill shank, but less than the diameter of the quill head portion, whereby the quill is supported on the guides by means of its head with the shank dependent therefrom between the guides. Each guide is also preferably provided with a dependent quill stabilizing means such as the rod indicated by the numeral 25 which limits lateral sway of the quill shank in the vicinity of the operating elements of the apparatus.

The slot formed by and between the two guides 21 and 22 is open at the upper end, not shown, to permit coordination with any desired work element delivery mechanism or to otherwise permit insertion of the element. The lower end of the slot opens toward the table 24 and is aligned with an L-shaped slotted portion 26 therein. Preferably, and as shown, the guides 21 and 22 are formed with the ends 21a and 22a bent angularly downward toward the table, engaging the table at either side of the L-shaped slotted portion, with the main body of the guides above the table level. The slotted portion 26 is disposed with the one end opening through the end of table 24 and the other end inwardly through one side thereof and toward the transport means or assembly. In effect, the slotted portion 26 is a continuation of that which is formed between the guides 21 and 22.

The feed assembly may also be considered as including the synchronized control and feed mechanisms employed to regulate and coordinate the delivery of work elements to the transport and positioning assembly. In these mechanisms, the numeral 31 designates a cross bar supported above and at right angles to the guides 21 and 22 adjacent its lower end by means of standards 31a and 31b. In the structure as shown, the bar 31 provides a journal bearing for a stub shaft 32 extended therethrough with the ends protruding at either side. Each end of the shaft carries a radially extending arm 33 and 34, each of which in turn supports a dependent angular finger rod 35 and 36 respectively. The rods 35 and 36 each have a portion depending vertically from their respective support arms and another portion, designated by the numerals 35a and 36a respectively, in substantially right angular relation to the first, extending inwardly below the guides 21 and 22. The portions 35a and 36a are. spaced from each other longitudinally of the guides and by means of the shaft 32, by a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the quill shanks at the head, and are of a length which is slightly greater than the width of a strap or guide member 21 or 22 plus the width of the slot formed between the guides, whereby the ends of the spaced finger portions 35a and 36b have a slightly overlapping relationship.

In operation, the shaft 32 is rocked back and forth with a limited arcuately reciprocal motion by means of a rocker arm 37 mounted on the arm 33 in angular relation thereto. This motion imparted to the shaft and thereby the arms 33 and 34 and fingers 35 and 36 causes the portions 35a and 36a alternately to be moved across the guide slot so as to provide an escapement means which will permit the discharge of only one quill at a time from the feed guides into the slotted portion 26 of table 24. Considering the line of quills carried on guides 21 and 22 to be checked by means of the finger 36a interposed across the slot, and engaging the last quill in the line, if the arm 37 is then rocked to impart limited arcuate motion to shaft 32, so as to withdraw the finger 36a from its check position, such movement of the shaft 32 at the same time will cause the finger 35a to be moved into a position across the slot, with this finger inserted in back of the last quill in the line and ahead of the quill next behind it. The slight overlapped relationship of the ends of fingers 35a and 36a insures partial insertion of the finger 35a prior to complete withdrawal of finger 36a, thus providing a stop for the line of quills rearwardly of the first quill in the line.

As the motion of the arm 37 and shaft 32 is continued to the farthest limit thereof, the finger 36a is completely withdrawn, and the first quill is released, to be discharged by gravity from the guide slot into the slotted portion 26 of table 24. The motion of arm 37 is then reversed to reinsert the finger 36a across the guide slot, while withdrawing the finger 35a from its check position. The line of quills then is released and move by gravity toward the finger 36a where it is again checked.

The feeding assembly further includes a means for discharging individual quills from the table 24. As shown in the drawings, and particularly in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7,

- this is a pusher rod disposed below the table having a body portion 38 mounted in fixed right angular relation to a journalledshaft 39 at one end and having an angular manner later described similarly actuates the rod 38 and bar 40. The rod 38 is of a length sufiicient to permit the bar 40 to engage the shank of a quill suspended in the table slotted portion 26 and to force it out of the slotted portion through the end thereof which opens through the side edge of table 24, discharging it from the table into susported engagement by an element of the quill transfer or transport assembly.

The quill transfer or transport assembly is illustrated in detail by Figs. 3 and 4, and is also shown in part by 'Figs. 1 and 7. In the structure as shown, the numeral 41 designates support shaft carried by and below the platform D by means of journal bearings, not shown, at each end of the platform, and extending longitudinally thereof. The shaft 41 is provided for both limited reciprocal and limited arcuate motion in these bearings. Mounted on the shaft 41 is a series of fork elements, which will be referred to generally by the numeral 42, and specifically designated in the drawings by the numerals 42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d. These elements are rigidly secured to the shaft 41 in spaced relation longitudinally thereof and in a common plane. The number of forks employed may be varied according to the number of finishing or reconditioning steps or operations to be performed, but normally will exceed by at least one the total number of such steps. In the apparatus as illustrated, three treating or reconditioning steps or operations are indicated, and accordingly four forks 42 are provided.

Inasmuch as the treating or reconditioning operations are to be accomplished by rotation of the work elements or quills, while applying a work or reconditioning means thereto, provision is made to receive, hold, and rotate the work elements. This is accomplished by means of the assembly for intermittently and successively engaging each of the several pre-located or positioned work elements in one of a series of vertical lathe assemblies providing a series of continuously rotating work element driving means. In such series, the number of lathe assemblies corresponds to the number of treating or reconditioning steps. In this instance, there are three.

Each lathe assembly includes a headstock spindle extending through the platform F and journalled for rotation therein, and also provided for limited vertical reciprocal movement through the bearing. The means provided permits upward movement of the spindle against action of a compression or tension spring designed to return the spindle to a depressed position. A contemplated typical and generally conventional headstock spindle mount is illustrated with reference to spindle 43b of Fig. 5. As shown, the spindle is extended downwardly through a collar bearing indicated by the numeral 145, and beyond the undersurface of platform F the spindle being shouldered as at 146 to engage the upper end of the collar providing a stop therefor. The lower end of the spindle 43b is adapted to engage a friction head 45b, the head having a greater diameter than the spindle, to extend radially beyond the spindle. A helical compression spring 147, as shown, is disposed and engaged between the under surface of the platform F and the friction head 45b. The upper end of each spindle carries a driving pulley affixed thereto, while the lower end carries ahead portion adapted frictionally to engage the head of a quill member which is applied thereto.

The several headstock spindles will be referred to generally by the numeral 43, and are specifically designated in the drawings by the numerals 43a, 43b, and 43a. The pulleys affixed thereto will be referred to generally by the numeral 44, and are specifically designated in the drawings by the numerals 44a, 44b, and 440. The friction head portions on the lower end of each spindle will be generally referred to by the numeral 45 and are specifically designated in the drawings by the numerals 45a, 45b, and 450.

Immediately below, and in vertical alignment with each headstock spindle is a corresponding tailstock spindle.

These spindles will be generally referred to by the numeral 46, and are specifically designated in the drawings by the numerals 46a, 46b, and 46c. The spindles 46 are mounted for idle rotation on a support bar 47, the ends of which are fitted into slotted or recessed portions in the platform B. As shown, in Fig. 3a specifically, the lower end of each spindle, such as spindle 46a is enlarged to form a collar adapted to bear on the upper surface of the bar 47, and each is provided with a dependent stub or-pivt portion 148 adapted for reception in a recess,

6 such as indicated at 47a, provided in the upper surface of the bar 4 7. The under surface of the bar 47 is engaged by a lifter rod 48 having a ball head 48a at one end. At the other end this rod is secured to one end of a journalled shaft 49 of which the other end is secured to a crank arm 50.

The assembly for performing the several treating or reconditioning. steps or operation is illustrated in detail in Fig. 5, and also is shown in part by Fig. 6. Referring more particularly to Fig. 5, the numeral 61 designates a T-shaped slide bar disposed horizontally on platform B. This .bar is provided with a head portion 61a extending longitudinally of platform B and a leg portion 61b integral with said head and extending at right angles thereto, laterally of the platform, between guides 62 and 63 on each side of the leg 61b. The head portion 61a supports three vertical rods 64a, 64b, and 64c, which may be reerred to generally as rods .64. Each rod in turn carries an extension or a mounting bracket to hold and apply the desired treating materials. Thesebrackets and extensions .will be generally referred to as brackets 65 and are specifically designated by thenumerals 65a, 65b, and .650.

In the apparatus shown, the treating steps consist of light sanding and bufiing steps. The sanding step is accomplished by means of an abrasive belt 66 wound on a spool 67 and passed therefrom over a spindle 68 carried ,on the bracket 65a, thence over a cushioned pad69 carried by .bracket 65b to be wound ,on a recovery spool 70. Preferably the spindle 68 and the pad 69 are shaped as shown in this figure to accommodate the shape of the work element such as the quill shown in Fig. 5. The .spool 67 is rotatably mounted on a vertical support rod =71, while the spool 70 is keyed to or otherwise mounted in fixed relation to a vertical shaft 72 mounted in a suitable bearing 72a on platform B, extending therethrough :into a reduction gear box 73. Although, if desired, the shaft 72 may be driven through suitable connections by motor 1, by preference, it is driven through gear box 73 by a separate motor 74. The bracket65c carries a-buffing or polishing pad 75.

The assembly also includes means for advancing and retracting the slide bar 61 reciprocally, and thus to" apply the treating materials to the work elements. These means, as shown particularly by Figs. 5 and 6, include a rocker shaft 81 supported by brackets 81a and 81b parallel to and below the platform B, and a crank arm '82 secured to the shaft 81 at one end and a rocker arm 83 secured to the shaft at the other end and engaging the free end of the T-shaped bar leg portion 61b to advance the bar. A tension spring element 84 secured at one end to a pin 85 on the guides 62 and 63 and at the other end to the head portion 61:: of the T-shaped'bar 61, serves to retract the bar 61 and through bar 61 to return the rocker arm 83 to its original position.

Another feature of the apparatus is the assembly for stabilizing and aiding in precisely locating the work elements in their transfer or transport from stage to stage of the series of treating operations. This assembly is'illustrated in detail by Fig. 4 and in part by Fig. 3. .In the drawings, the numeral 91 designates a fixed plate element carried by the platform C and along one edge presenting a series of notches 91a, 9 1b, and 910 toward the work location. These notches are spaced along the edge v of plate 91 and centered with respect to the common axes of the respective headstock and tailstock spindles. The plate 91 does not intrude on the work area radially of said axes.

In addition to the fixed plate, there is provided amoveable plate element 92 containing notches 92a, 92b, and 92c along the inner edge thereof opening toward the work area and spaced longitudinally ofthe element'in a manner corresponding to the notches in plate 91. This moveable plate 92 is supported for limited arcuate movement above the plate 91 by means of a support rod'93 secured at one end to the plate 92 and at the other end to the free end of a stub shaft 94. The shaft 94 is journalled in a support 94a therefor, and is joined at the other end to the lower end of a bell-crank 95, and provides a pivot point therefor. The crank 95 also carries a cam follower roller 96. The upper end of the bell-crank 95 is connected by a link 97 to gear 98, which is one of a pair of matching gears 98 and 99, eccentrically of the face thereof, so that a rocking motion imparted to the crank 95 on its pivot point imparts a reciprocal arcuate motion to gear 98 and thus to the meshing gear 99. A pusher bar 100 is afiixed to the surface of the gear 99, and moves arcuately therewith toward and away from the upper limit of the work area and in opposition to the moveable plate 92.

Having identified the several operating assemblies and the principal and essential components thereof, reference is again made to the means for driving and actuating the several assemblies and components, including linkage thereof to the driving means and to the related features of control and synchronization of the operation. In the apparatus as shown, and as referred to above, two separate power trains or transmission systems are provided. The first power train includes the pulley lb, pulleys 3 and 4, and the belt 2. This belt extends from pulley 1b over idler pulleys such as pulleys 3 and 4 into engagement with the pulleys 44. Such engagement is established in such fashion that each of the pulleys 44a, 44b, and 440 is continuously rotated during operation of the apparatus.

The second power train or transmission system includes the shaft 12, and the several elements, as previously set forth, employed to transmit driving power from the pulley 10 on motor shaft 1a. The shaft 12, and the means for converting its rotary motion into the various forms as required for actuating the several operating as semblies is shown in detail by Figs. 3 and 4, and in part also by Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 7.

The shaft 12 extends the entire length of the apparatus, being supported on the platform C as by journalled brackets, of which one is shown and designated by the numeral 101, in Figs. 3 and 4, and the other is shown in Fig. 6 and designated by the numeral 101a. At the one end, the sprocket 11 provides for driving the shaft. At the other end of the shaft is a cam member 102 affixed to the shaft, as well as a spur gear 103 freely mounted thereon. The cam and spur gear cooperate through suitable linkage to provide for operation of the escapement mechanism previously described, as well as the pusher rod 33 and bar portion 40.

In this linkage, a bell-crank member is pivotally supported by the platform D as indicated at 104. The short arm 105 of this crank carries a cam follower roller element 106 engaged by the cam 102. The longer arm 107 extends angularly from above the pivot at 104, and terminates in a pivot point 1 7a, adapted to make connection with one end of each of the connecting link elements 108 and 109, of which the other end of element 108 is pivotally connected to the outer face of the gear 103, While the other end of element 109 is pivotally connected to a crank arm 110 secured to the shaft 39. The gear 103 meshes with a corresponding spur gear 111 mounted on the shaft 41 by means of a splined bushing 112 affixed to the end of the shaft 41 extended beyond the journalled support therefor on platform D. The shaft 41 and bushing 112 are disposed slideably with reference to the gear 111, permitting limited reciprocal movement of the shaft and bushing through the gear.

In operation, rotation of shaft 12 rotates the cam 102 so as to engage the follower 106 on the bell-crank arm 105 and thereby to depress the end of angular arm 107. This motion through the link 108 rotates the gear 103 and in an opposite direction the gear 111. This motion of gear 1 11 is in turn imparted to the shaft 41 through the splined bushing 112, thereby lifting the forks 42 to a horizontal position as shown in Fig. 3. Then as the shaft 12 and cam 102 continue to rotate, displacement of the follower 106 is reduced, and the weight of the forks helps to rotate the shaft in the opposite direction so that the forks return to a depressed or retracted position as shown in Fig. 4.

At the same time, when the arm 107 is depressed, pressure is applied to the end of crank arm through the link 109, and by this means the shaft 39 is rotated and with it rods 38 and 40 are moved arcuately to bring them into the position as shown in Fig. 3 and also in Figs. 1, 5 and 7. These elements are also returned to a retracted position as shown in Figs. 4 and 6 by the weight of the forks and the reciprocal movement thereby of shaft 41 and gear 112.

As shown in Fig. 3, and also in Fig. l, the escapement assembly is also actuated by the same means as the shaft 4-1 and pusher rod 38. This is accomplished through a link 113 adj'ustably secured at one end to the link 109, and at the other end to a crank arm 114 mounted on one end of a shaft 115. The shaft 115 is supported for limited rotation by an extension 11511 of platform D. A weighted stop member 116 is fixed to the shaft 115 as shown in Fig. 3 and extends outwardly therefrom toward the table 24, and opposite to the slot 26 therein. The weight of the stop member 116 also cooperates with that of the forks 42 to counteract or to reverse the arcuate motion imparted to the several operating elements :by means of the cam 102. In its depressed position, the stop member 116 serves to block the end of the slotted portion 26 in table 24 and prevents premature dislodgement or discharge of a work element or quill therefrom. The relationshipv of the stop member 116 to the slotted portion 26 in the table 24 :is also shown in Fig. 5.

The escapement mechanism as previously described, is also actuated through the cam 102 by means of a rocker arm 117, corresponding to the escapement rocker arm 37, and a connecting link 118. The arm 117 is provided with a looped portion 117a which encircles the connecting link 118. Limited reciprocal rotation of the shaft 115, imparted through cam 102, links 109 and 113, and crank arm 114, as previously described, rocks the arm 117 back and forth and this motion is transmitted to the link 118 through the spaced stops 118a, 118b and thence to arm 37 through the stops 118C and 118d. The stops 118a, 118b, 1180, and 118d are adjustable longitudinally of link 118 to provide for regulation of the length of the stroke thereof, and also the timing of the movement of the link 118 and of the rocker arm 37.

Adjustment and synchronization of the several operating elements and the related connections therebetween, is accomplished in conventional fashion well known to the art. For example, the dimensions of the cam 102, as well as the throw of bell-crank arm 107, will largely determine the limit of movement of the forks 42 and pusher bar 40, while the operation of the escapement and stop member 116 may be adjusted by the relative position of the connection of link 11 3 on link 109 as Well as by the disposition of the several stops on link 118.

As set forth, the arcuate motion of the shaft 41 and forks 42 is accomplished by conversion of the continuous rotary motion of shaft 12 by means including the gears 103 and 111, and the splined bushing 112.

The continuous rotary motion of shaft 12 is also employed to move the shaft 41 longitudinally in one direction. For this purpose, a crown cam 121 is mounted on shaft 12 to rotate therewith in engagement with one side of a follower lever arm 122. The arm 122 is pivotally mounted at its lower end on the outer edge portion of platform C. The other side of the lever arm, at the upper end thereof, engages a collar 123 mounted on the shaft 41. Rotation of the cam presses the crowned portion thereof against the arm 122, which in turn presses against the collar to move the shaft longitudinally so as to retract the bushing 112 through the gear 111. as shown in Fig. 3. A weight 124 suspended on a cable 125, secured to the shaft 41 as shown, and passed over the pulley 126, returns .the shaft longitudinally so that the bushing 112 is extended through gear 111.

The cam 121 and collar 123 are adjustably related to the respective shafts 12 and 41, and to each other, so that longitudinal motion of .the shaft may be synchronized with the arcuate motion thereof, and thereby provide for the extension stroke during the time that the forks 42 are depressed, and the retraction stroke during the time that the forks are elevated and in a substantially horizontal position. The length of the stroke is adjusted so as to be substantially equal to the center to center distance from the slotted portion 26 and the first headstock and tailstock spindles, between the following work positions, and from the last headstock and tailstock spindles to the discharge of the machine, as provided by a chute 127 shown in Fig. 3 and also in Figs. 1 and 6. The center to center spacing of the forks 42 longitudinally of the shaft 41 is also substantially equal to the distances just set forth and to the length of the shaft stroke.

The arcuately reciprocal movement of the means for stabilizing and aiding in precisely locating work elements during transport and positioning is provided by means of a cam 131 on shaft 12, which acts against the follower roller 96 on bell-crank 95. As the shaft 12 rotates, the cam forces the bell-crank outwardly, rocking it on its pivot shaft 94, and moving the plate 92 and bar 100 inwardly toward the operating area to engage the work elements therein. As the cam rotates, the unbalanced weight of the plate 92 maintains contact between the cam and its follower, and also serves'to effect withdrawal of the plate and bar. The cam is adjustable on the shaft 12 to permit location thereon in such manner as to permit synchronization of the stabilizer action with the operation of forks 42 and the tailstock spindles 46.

The tailstock spindles 46 and the support bar 47 therefor are raised by means of arcuately reciprocal motion applied to the crank arm 50 and thence to the shaft 49 and arm 48. The arm 50 is operatively connected to one end of a rocker arm 141, pivotally supported as at 141a from the platform D, through a link rod 142. The other end of the arm 141 carries a follower roller 143 which is engaged by a peripheral cam 144 mounted on the shaft 12. The spindles 46 and the support 47 may be Withdrawn either by their own weight, or otherwise,'to provide for retraction and reseating of the bar support.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the assembly for performing the several treating steps is also operated for engagement with and withdrawal from the work elements by means operatively connected with the shaft 12. Such means as shown include a peripheral cam 151, mounted on the shaft 12 between the crown cam 121 and the hearing 101a to engage a cam follower roller 152 mounted on one end of a crank arm 153. The crank arm 153 is secured at its other end to one end of a pivot shaft 154 carried by a bearing 155 mounted on platform C. At its other end the shaft 154 is aflixed to one end of a complementary crank arm 156. Connection is made between the other end of arm 156 and the free end of rocker arm 83 by means of linkage rod 157. This link is preferably provided for length adjustment and thereby the stroke of arm 83 in any convenient fashion. As shown, the rod 157 is provided for threaded engagement with a cap nut element or clevis 157a pivotally mounted at the end of the crank arm 156. By varying the operating limits of the arm 83, the stroke of the T-bar member 61 may be adjusted so as to suitably engage the work elements supported and rotated by the lathe spindles 43 and 46.

In describing the overall operation of the machine, it will be assumed that a work element, in this instance a quill, has been delivered to the platform 24. At this stage, the rod 38 and bar 40 will be retracted. The forks 42 will be in a horizontal plane, with fork 42a opposite the lateral opening of slotted portion 26, as shown in Fig. 7 and in part by Fig. 6. The line of quills between guides 21 and 22 will be restrained by the finger 36a. The ca'm 151 will have passed its rotational peak. The cam 144 will be still at its peak. The cam 131 will have passed the lowest point in its rotation, as will have cam 121 also, while the cam 102 will be approximately at its peak of rotation.

If the cams are suitably shaped and the various linkages are adjusted as indicated, continued rotation of the shaft brings the rod 38 forward so that the bar 40 ejects the quill from slot 26 into the waiting fork 42a. Simultaneously the rotation of cam 144 permits withdrawal of the tailstock elements 46 from an elevated position. At this instant the crown cam 121 engages lever arm 122 and thereby collar 123 to move shaft 41 longitudinally with reference to platform D, retracting the shaft and bushing 112 through gear 111. This movement brings the quill into alignment with the head 45a on headstock spindle 43a and with tailstock spindle 46a. By this time, the cam 131 has also reached its rotational peak, and through crank arm 95, the elements 92 and are moved inwardly to aid in the alignment of the quill held by the fork 42a, element 92damping lateral sway, and element 100 positively seating the quill in the fork which has been initially precenfered to coincide with the axis of the head and tailstock elements.

In sequence then, the cam 144 reaches its peak of rotation and through the arm 141 and the intermediate connections 142, 50 and 48 raises the bar 47 and thereby causes the tailstock element 46a to engage the lower end of the quill forcing it upward into seated engagement of the upper end with the continuously rotating head 45a. As this occurs, the cam 102 has passed its peak permitting the forks 42 to drop, disengaging from the quill, and rotating the shaft 41. Immediately thereafter, the cam 121 also passes its peak, and the weight 124 moves the shaft laterally to extend it through gear 112, as shown in Fig. 4.

With the quill engaged and rotated by the head 45a, rotation of the earn 151 meantime has brought it to its rotational peak. Thereby arm 153 is forced outward, arm 156 inward and through the various connections and linkages shaft 81 has been rotated to force arm 83 against the leg 61b of the T-bar 61 so as to advance the head 61a and the brackets 65. The operational materials carried on brackets 65 are thus brought into an operating position, with the quill engaged, in this first stage, by the spindle 68, and with the abrasive belt 66 in surface engagement between them.

In the meantime, and substantially immediately following the retraction of the shaft 41 through the gear 111, the rod 38 and bar 40 are also retracted. While the bar 40is being retracted, the stop member 116, raised in the first instance, is lowered to block the end of the slotted portion 26. At the same time, the finger 36a is being withdrawn from its position across the slot between guides 21 and 22, and the finger 35a is being inserted. As the operation continues, another quill is released to the table 24 and the sequence of operations then repeated.

.With further reference to the operating sequence of the forks 42, it may be seen that as they are again elevated to a horizontal position with fork 42a ready to receive another quill as discharged from slot 26, the first quill will be reengaged, but now by fork 42b. Repetition of the sequential steps results in the first quill and each succeeding quill being moved and repositioned with respect to the several head and tail stock elements in sequence from 43a and 46a to 43c and 460, and finally to be engaged by the fork 42d, and then as the forks are lowered to be dropped into the chute 127. Referring to the series of fork motions particularly, they are as follows:

a. Upward arcuate movement to a horizontal position to engage or receive work elements.

b. Lateral refractive movement while horizontally positioned to transfer work elements from one stage to another.

0. Downward arcuate-movement to depress and disengage the forks from the positioned work elements, and to discharge the last element in the series of forks.

d. Lateral extensive movement while in a depressed position to return the forks to their original position ready for repetition of motion as in a above.

Although the apparatus and its operation have been described with particular reference to employment for the reconditioning and refinishing of quills as in the weaving industry, it should be apparent that both the apparatus and the operating steps are equally applicable under any circumstances in which a work element is to be rotated during performance of a forming or turning operation thereon, or when applying a treating, finishing, or reconditioning operation thereto, and in which. an operating instrumentality is applied to the rotating work element substantially in the manner set forth.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic lathe machine, the combination of a base; said base having a lonigtudinal axis, a feed assembly for work elements mounted in vertically spaced relation above said base at one end thereof, said assembly having an outlet opening in substantially right angular relation to said longitudinal base axis; a lathe assembly, including at least one pair of coaxially opposed headstock and tailstock members, in which said headstock members are rotatably supported in vertically spaced relation to said base, and in a line substantially parallel to said base axis, and said tailstock members are rotatably mounted below said headstock members for limited vertically reciprocal movement toward and away from the headstock members to engage and hold a work element between them; a work element transport assembly mounted on said base, including at least two individual work element carrier members disposed in spaced relation longitudinally of said base and supported for limited, reciprocally arcuate movement toward and away from said headstock members and for limited reciprocal movement longitudinally of said base, said individual carrier elements adapted to receive individual work elements from said feed assembly outlet, to position each element between a pair of headstock and tailstock members, and to remove each element therefrom in sequence; an assembly for engaging said work elements in a lathe operation while held between a pair of headstock and tailstock members, including a tool carriage slidably mounted on said base for reciprocal movement laterally thereof toward and away from the common vertical axis of said paired headstock and tailstock members, and at least one operational tool supported on said carriage to engage a work element held in said lathe assembly between paired headstock and tailstock members therein; a first power train connected for continuous rotation of headstock members in said lathe assembly during operation of said machine; a drive assembly mounted on said base for actuation of said feed, lathe, transport and other operational assemblies, said drive assembly including means for synchronizing and regulating the function of said several operational assemblies; and a second power train mounted on said base for energizing said drive assembly.

2. A machine according to claim 1, in which said feed assembly for work elements comprises a flat work element receiving table supported on said base, a first slotted portion in said table having an entrance end and an open end providing said outlet from the assembly; a pair of elongated work element guide members, secured at one end to said table, at each side of the entrance end of said table slotted portion, and inclined upwardly therefrom in parallel spaced relation one to another, said members defining a second slotted portion having an outlet opening downwardly into the entrance of said first slotted portion; said first and second slotted portions forming a substantially continuous travel path for work elements suspended therein; an escapement means mounted on said paired guides, said means including a pair of escapement fingers mounted on said paired guides for alternate reciprocal movement across said second slotted portion and the travel path defined by said work guide members, and disposed in spaced relation to each other longitudinally of said portion; a stop member mounted for limited reciprocally arcuate movement toward and away from the outlet of said first slotted portion, intermittently to block said outlet; and actuating linkage means connecting between said escapement fingers, said stop member and said drive assembly to move said fingers alternately across said slotted portion and the travel path defined by said guide members, and intermittently to move said stop member arcuately to block the outlet from said feed assembly.

3. A machine according to claim 1, in which said feed assembly for work elements comprises a flat work element receiving table supported on said base, a first slotted portion in said table having an entrance end and an open end providing said outlet from the assembly; a pair of elongated work element guide members, secured at one end to said table, at each side of the entrance end of said table slotted portion, and inclined upwardly therefrom in parallel spaced relation one to another, said members defining a second slotted portion having an outlet opening downwardly into the entrance of said first slotted portion; said first and second slotted portions forming a substantially continuous travel path for work elements suspended therein; an escapement means mounted on said paired guides, said means including a cross bar supported on said guides above and at right angles to said second slotted portion, a stub shaft journalled in said bar extending upwardly therefrom in parallel alignment with said second slotted portion; a pair of escapement fingers mounted on said shaft in spaced relation longitudinally thereof extending radially outward beyond said guides, downwardly below said guides, and inwardly beneath said guides into overlapping end relationship; a rocker arm mounted on said shaft extending radially upward therefrom; a stop member mounted for limited reciprocally arcuate movement toward and away from the outlet of said first slotted portion, intermittently to block said outlet; a rocker arm mounted vertically on said stop member in substantially parallel relation to said stub shaft rocker arm and a link rod freely connecting said arms; a pusher bar pivoted on said base, extending upwardly therefrom toward said table and laterally of said first slotted portion; actuating linkage means connecting said pusher bar to said drive assembly; and actuating linkage means connected between said link rod connecting said rocker arms and said pusher bar linkage means.

4. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said work element transport assembly comprises a shaft support disposed longitudinally of said base, a shaft journalled in bearings carried by said support for limited reciprocal movement longitudinally of said base and for limited arcuate rotation in said bearings, said individual work element carriers each consisting of a double tined fork ated by said drive assembly to move said shaft longitudinally by means of said collar and for arcuate rotation of said shaft thereof by means of said gear in a repetitive alternate sequence.

5. A machine according to claim 1, which includes separate means for stabilizing and positioning work elements as supported by said transport assembly carn'er members, comprising a lower plate element supported at a level immediately above that of a tailstock in said lathe assembly, and an upper bar element supported at a level immediately below that of a headstock in said lathe assembly, each of said plate and bar elements disposed for limited substantially opposed arcuate movement toward and away from the common axis of said headstock and tailstock members to engage work elements supported by said transport assembly carrier members.

6. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said assembly for engaging said work elements in a lathe operation, while held between a pair of headstock and tailstock members, comprises a T-shaped carriage slidably supported on said base, said carriage including a cross arm portion in parallel relation to said base axis, and a leg portion in right angular relation thereto and extending away from said axis, tool holder bracket means mounted on said carriage cross arm portion, a rocker arm actuated by said drive assembly to move said carriage toward said center line, and spring means to retract said carriage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 222,923 Loeper Dec. 23, 1879 519,967 Parker May 15, 1894 522,930 Church July 10, 1894 577,492 Nash Feb. 23, 1897 873,498 Busch Dec. 10, 1907 1,105,343 Wilcox 1 July 28, 1914 1,444,668 Demers Feb. 6, 1923 1,662,546 Steiner Mar. 13, 1928 2,040,028 Smith May 5, 1936 2,356,226 Delahan Aug. 22, 1944 2,621,448 MacMeans et al. Dec. 16, 1952 

